Israel National News

Likud MK bashes haredi votes on hostage deal

MK Moshe Saada denounced the haredi ministers for leaving their votes on the hostage deal in writing rather than attend the cabinet meeting on Shabbat.

Ari Fuld's brother:

Ari Fuld's brother: 'The release of his murderer hurts because of the next victims'

Eitan Fuld, brother of terror victim Ari Fuld, who was murdered in a terror attack in Gush Etzion, responds to news that his brother's murderer will be released on Sunday: 'The enemy celebrates, but it's a temporary celebration.'

Chief of Staff:

Chief of Staff: Fighting created the conditions necessary to free hostages

IDF Chief of Staff visits Gaza border, speaks about war against Hamas: 'The work doesn’t end here, we still have a lot more to do. We will do this with great strength and determination.'

Supreme Court Appeal:

Supreme Court Appeal: 'Minimal honor to bereaved families'

The Choosing Life forum has filed a Supreme Court Appeal against the release of terrorists in the hostage deal.

Hamas to be defeated, celebrations prevented in Judea, Samaria

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich successfully pushed for the ceasefire deal with Hamas to include a section requiring the prevention of celebrations following the release of convicted terrorists into Judea and Samaria.

Beilinson Hospital:

Beilinson Hospital: Last preparations for receiving and releasing the hostages

Beilinson Hospital is gearing up to welcome returning patients with receive gourmet meals, personal rooms, and comprehensive medical care to ensure comfort and recovery.

Resignations tomorrow:

Resignations tomorrow: Itamar Ben-Gvir's party to leave coalition

Itamar Ben-Gvir's Otzma Yehudit party intends to resign from the coalition en masse tomorrow in protest against the hostage deal.

Footage:

Footage: IDF completes preparations for hostages' return

IDF sets up absorption centers to provide returning hostages with medical and personal support; following their arrival at the centers, the hostages will be brought to hospitals where they will meet their loved ones.

Twice in a day:

Twice in a day: Missile launched from Yemen intercepted by IAF

Sirens sounded Saturday morning in central Israel and Jerusalem, and in the afternoon in Eilat and the Arava.

Families of terror victims to be informed of terrorists' release

The families of terror victims whose murderer will be released as part of the ceasefire deal will receive notice of the decision, joint statement says.

Terrorists who murdered hundreds of Israelis to be freed in deal

The government approved a deal to release 735 prisoners, exchanging them for 33 hostages held by Hamas. The list includes senior terrorists responsible for some of the deadliest attacks in Israel's history.

One seriously injured in stabbing attack in Tel Aviv

Man of about 30 stabbed in upper body by 19-year-old illegal Arab from Tulkarm; armed civilian eliminates terrorist.

Guterres appoints Sigrid Kaag as interim UN Middle East envoy

UN Secretary-General appoints former Dutch Foreign Minister, who is married to former PA deputy minister, as the interim UN Middle East envoy.

Solo-vehicle accident

Palestinian Arab found dead in burning vehicle in Samaria after solo-vehicle accident

Man pronounced dead after being found lifeless in a burning vehicle on Route 505 in Samaria.

Two days before taking effect

US Supreme Court upholds ban on TikTok, two days before it takes effect

US Supreme Court determines that the potential national security risks tied to TikTok’s connections with China outweigh concerns about free speech.

CIA analyst admits to leaking Israel-Iran documents

Former CIA analyst Asif Rahman admits to leaking highly classified records detailing Israeli military preparations for a retaliatory strike on Iran, reversing his earlier denial of the charges.

Photos:

Photos: Female Cabinet ministers and PMO employees light Shabbat candles

As the Cabinet meeting discussing the hostage deal continued into Shabbat, female ministers left the meeting for the lighting of Shabbat candles, along with the employees of the Prime Minister's office.

Hostage release deal:

List of 95 terrorists to be released in first phase of hostage release published

Ministry of Justice publishes list of 95 prisoners who are scheduled for release in first phase of the hostage release deal, including a 17-year-old from eastern Jerusalem as well as the wife of PFLP leader.

ISA Director:

ISA Director: 'Close the deal as fast as possible'

ISA director Ronen Bar urged the government not to delay in ratifying the hostage deal.

President Herzog:

President Herzog: 'I harbor no illusions - the deal will bring challenges'

President Isaac Herzog tweeted to welcome the decision to approve the hostage deal and appealed not to let the deal divide the nation.

'Operation Way of the Land'

Israel Prison Service prepares to release thousands of terrorists

The Ofir and Shikma detention facilities have begun preparations to receive terrorists who are expected to be released following the lists that will be given to the IPS.

'We sat and cried together':

'We sat and cried together': Minister Wasserlauf's meeting with father of hostage

Minister Wasserlauf shares a wrenching moment when he went to the home of a parent of a hostage and told them that he would oppose the deal - but still wanted their daughter home.

PMO:

PMO: First hostages expected to be released on Sunday

Opposition Leader Lapid accuses religious parties of refusing to convene the Cabinet to vote on the hostage deal on Shabbat. The haredi and religious parties deny the accusation.

Hostage's father:

Hostage's father: This deal comes too late for my son

Michel Illouz, father of the late Guy Illouz who was killed in Hamas captivity spoke to the public as the Cabinet convenes to vote on hostage deal.

Hostage deal:

Hostage deal: Netanyhu accepts Smotrich's demands

Significant progress has been made in talks between Minister Smotrich and PM Netanyahu to allow the Religious Zionism part to remain in the government after the Cabinet approves the hostage deal.

Bibas family marks Kfir's second birthday in captivity

Kfir Bibas was kidnapped at just 9 months old along with his father Yarden, his mother Shiri, and his older brother Ariel, who was 4 years old

Security Council urges quick formation of government in Lebanon

UN Security Council urges all parties in Lebanon to "demonstrate renewed unity", calls on newly elected authorities to expedite the formation of a government.

Biden:

Biden: 'Israel must address legitimate concerns of Palestinians'

In his last interview as President, Joe Biden claimed that Israel could not sustain itself without a commitment to a Palestinian state.

New York:

New York: Hundreds hail 'Palestinian resistance' at rally in Times Square

Hundreds chant anti-Israel slogans at a rally in Times Square held to mark the ceasefire and hostage release between Israel and Hamas.

France:

France: Arena briefly closed off ahead of Paris-Maccabi Tel Aviv game

Police in French capital temporarily closes off Adidas Arena ahead of basketball game between Paris and Maccabi Tel Aviv due to suspicious package.

Chinese hackers breach US Treasury Secretary’s computer

Chinese state-sponsored hackers infiltrate computer of US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, gaining access to unclassified files, according to Bloomberg News.

Lawmakers to Biden:

Lawmakers to Biden: Prevent TikTok ban from going into effect

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer among those to appeal to Biden, requesting a 90-day extension on the deadline for TikTok parent ByteDance to sell its US operations or be banned in the country.

Officially:

Hostage release deal officially signed in Doha

Representatives of Israel, Hamas, the US and Qatar officially sign the hostage deal in Doha. Security Cabinet to convene in the morning to vote on the agreement.

Minutes into test flight

SpaceX loses its Starship rocket minutes into test flight

SpaceX launches 400-foot rocket for seventh test flight, announces moments later it lost contact with the spacecraft.

Fitch analyst:

Fitch analyst: Gaza ceasefire could positively impact Israel’s credit rating

Fitch's top sovereign rating analyst says that Israel’s credit rating, currently rated "A," could be positively impacted by a ceasefire in Gaza.

Liri Albag's father:

Liri Albag's father: Do not delay the approval of the agreement

Eli Albag, whose daughter is being held captive by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, writes to government ministers and the Prime Minister: "Any delay on the part of Israel could create a real risk."

Gadi Eisenkot's surprising support for Yariv Levin

In a discussion with members of National Unity Party, MK Eisenkot says that the outline of Ministers Sa'ar and Levin is not so bad and speaks out against the seniority system.

Thousands protest against ceasefire deal in Jerusalem

Right-wing organizations, hostages families, and bereaved families demonstrate against deal they say will lead to more attacks and abandon most of the remaining hostages.

Ben-Gvir:

Ben-Gvir: 'If deal is approved Otzma Yehudit will leave government'

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir says he and his fellow party members will resign from the government if the hostage deal is approved. They will return if Israel returns to fight in Gaza.

Defense Ministry departments prepare to tend to released hostages

Defense Minister Katz and Director General Zamir have directed that all Ministry capabilities be made available for implementing the hostage release deal, receiving the returning hostages, and supporting their families.